For decades, Hogan has been the most famous personality in professional wrestling. That has a lot to do with his record as a 12-time world champion in WWF, WCW and WWE, though we suspect it also has something to do with his magnificent horseshoe moustache.

The sheer length of Hogan’s charismatic career, which started in the late 1970s, has led many to believe he is professional wrestling’s greatest product. But at least one man thinks he was better.

Hulk Hogan in 1997.Source:News Limited

That man, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, won 21 championships from the 1990s onwards. A Texan radio station, 105.3 The Fan, recently asked Austin who the bigger “legend” was — himself, or Hogan?

“If you’re talking to me, it’s going to be Stone Cold Steve Austin,” he said. “If you guys are talking to Hulk, it’s going to be him.”

Austin had a notoriously disrespectful ringside persona during his time in the sport, but he was actually rather gracious towards Hogan on radio.

Steve Austin at the peak of his career.Source:News Limited

“I respect Hulk Hogan because his career lasted some 30 odd years,” Austin said. “I think I lasted about 15, but during my peak years, I took the business to a height it never seen before.

“When you say to anybody off the street, ‘Hey, do you know anything about pro wrestling?’ They’ll say, ‘Yeah, wasn’t that guy Hulk Hogan a pro wrestler?’ His name might come to your mind before mine, so I give that guy all due respect. He had a tremendous run.”

Steve Austin.Source:News Limited

Several legends of the sport have backed Austin’s claim that he was a bigger star than Hogan. CM Punk, a formidable champion himself, once said Austin was superior “by a landslide”. While inducting Austin into the Hall of Fame, CEO Vince McMahon called him “the biggest superstar in WWE history”.